We leave tomorrow for my fifth and my mom's third trip to Ghana! Wow! We truly are blessed! Thank you to everyone who has supported us with love, prayers, encouragement and donations!
Last week I started reading 'Kisses from Katie.' If any of you know this book, you know I probably really shouldn't be reading it....because it is exactly what I am suppose to read. The book found me and just a few days after buying it (I had never heard of it before but saw it on a table at Barnes and Noble and fought the urge to walk away from it), a friend asked if I had ever read it. Yep, so I'm reading it. It is joyful, but it hurts. Katie makes a really good observation in her book (she went to Uganda in 2007 for the first time to work with orphans, the same time as my first trip to Ghana); it is so good in fact that I am just going to steal it and copy it here. It's about the least of these...like from Matthew 25:40....“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for
me.’
From Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis:
'The truth is that there are children like this all over the world, sick, starving, dying, unloved, and uncared for. The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth claim to be Christians.
The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left. That is the Truth.'
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of
the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:45.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
To the ends of the earth......again!
Dear Family and Friends,
We are truly blessed to once again be able to return to Ghana and share love with our kids at the Save Widows and Orphans Development Centre (December 1-15). We would like to share our blessings with you by inviting you to be a part of our mission. While we get to see, firsthand, the joy and appreciation on the kids’ faces when they feel loved and seen, you can be the one that helps them feel that joy. You can be a part of making these kids feel special, safe and loved. There are several ways to get involved and any help is greatly appreciated. Here are some things that would be very helpful and loved by the kids.
*Wish list items to take with us (we’re now restricted to only one suitcase each, but we’ll still pack them full!):
· Children’s vitamins
· Kids projects (self-contained, light weight): LEGO models, model airplanes, jewelry kits, etc
· Arts & Crafts: construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, scissors, etc
· Games (simple, i.e. Connect Four, Chutes & Ladders, checkers)
· Kids/Preteen DVDs
· Worship CDs, music
· Girl clothes (age 2-4)
*While the age-level guides and interest of kids in Ghana do not correlate exactly with kids in the US, all the children are over the age of seven years (except one three-year-old girl). There are 15 kids.
Due to tighter luggage restrictions, the majority of our gifts for the kids will be bought in Ghana. In past years, several friends and family have blessed the children with monetary donations allocated for specific items or activities during our trip. Below are some examples of on the ground purchases. If you would like to help in this way, we’ll provide specifics on the use of your donation (what, how many and pictures of the kids enjoying your kindness).
*Wish list purchases in Ghana:
· Shoes (~$6-8, nice school shoes)
· Clothes (made specifically for each child, ~$10/each)
· Fish/chicken for meals at home (protein foods cost more, which means they’re offered less often; ~$20-one meal, all kids)
· Sweet treats (ice cream; ~$1.00)
· Pool fun day out ($30 all kids)
· Special meals out (~$30 all kids)
· Hiking trek in nearby village (~$40.00, travel to/from included)
· Soccer balls (~$5.00)
*School costs remain the number one major fundraising need for the children. Currently, the school needs are just barely being met on a year-to-year basis through the One by One Foundation (started by our good friend and fellow volunteer, Josephine Hopkins; formerly named the Hopkins Foundation). School donations are greatly appreciated and can be made directly to the One by One Foundation online at www.hopkinsfoundation.org. All donations are used specifically for our kids’ boarding school fees and supplies.
*Most importantly, we ask for your prayers that we have a safe, healthy, joyful, and purposeful trip.
Happy Holidays and God Bless!
Carol and Alicia
Carol’s contact information:
314-954-6961
Alicia’s contact information:
217-418-0070
One by One Foundation
208-455-8144
2922 E Cleveland Blvd, Suite 322
Caldwell, ID 83605
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